Lebeck, Adolph

LEBECK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 15:54:17

Adolph Lebeck

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.699)
ADOLPH LEBECK is a member of the firm of LEBECK Brothers, dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., at Walnut. They are among the leading merchants of this thriving town.

Adolph LEBECK's father, S.L.J. LEBECK, a school-teacher by profession, was educated at Tondern Schleswig and was a teacher in Albersdorf, Germany, from 1842 to 1884, for a period of over forty years in one place, and previously in different places from early manhood. He married Hanna KETELSEN, and they had ten children: James, Alfred, Carl L., Line Christina, Hanne, Adolph, Male, Wilhelm, Berthold. Mr. LEBECK has now retired from active life. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and has reached the great age of eighty-one years, and is still living in Albersdorf, enjoying the respect of the people, many of whom he taught as children in the schools.

Adolph, his son and the subject of this sketch, was born in Albersdorf, Holstein, Germany, September 27, 1855, received an excellent education and learned the mercantile business in early life. In 1872, at the age of seventeen, he came to America and directly to Lyons, Iowa, where his brother, Carl L., was a clerk in a store. He then went to Monmouth, Illinois, entering the cigar business, but, the work not agreeing with his health, he returned to Lyons, Iowa, and engaged as clerk in a general merchandise store, remained there for a little over two years, and then went to Omaha and engaged in the grocery business. In 1874, his brother Carl started in business in Walnut, and in 1878 Adolph returned to Germany on a visit and remained one year, then returned to America and went into company with his brother under the firm name of LEBECK Brothers, buying out LODGE Brothers. Since this time, the firm has been attending to business, driving a prosperous trade and stand today among the leading businessmen of this part of the county.

In 1880, Mr. LEBECK married Miss Bertha SIEBKE, who was born at Davenport, Iowa, her parents coming from Germany in 1859. Mr. And Mrs. LEBECK have three children: Hanne, Theodor and Malitta. Mr. LEBECK, in national affairs, is a Democrat but has no time to devote to politics. The firm has been prosperous in business, and Mr. LEBECK is a man who is self-made and coming to America without knowledge of the English language, he has by his own merits succeeded in life and deserves great credit for his manly and honorable course. For business integrity, the firm stands high among the citizens and the merchants of the county, and their credit has never been impeached.